By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: Air travellers have chosen Qatar Airways (QA) as the World’s Best Business Class at 2016 World Airline Awards and voted it Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East.
QA accepted the accolades at 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards at the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK yesterday.
The consumer-voted awards recognised the airline for its commitment to offer passengers an unrivalled travelling experience.
“It is a very proud moment for QA to be named World’s Best Business Class, Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East by the Skytrax World Airline Awards, not only for myself, but for every individual at QA who creates the passengers’ experience — from our on board cabin crew to the chefs overseeing our catering to the technicians who ensure the cabin is in perfect working order,” said Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, QA.
‘QA remains a favourite of travellers’
“Our commitment to continued success is unwavering and a testament to the dedication of our global teams. The airline’s renowned service, modern aircraft and luxurious cabins, combined with an expanding global network, continue to set Qatar Airways apart from the competition,” he added.
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are widely known as the Passengers Choice Awards with millions of travellers, from 160 countries, participating in passenger satisfaction surveys to decide the winners every year.
Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest fleets in commercial aviation, with an average age per aircraft of five years. Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 186 aircraft flying to more than 150 destinations across six continents.
“Qatar Airways remains a favourite among air travellers year-on-year and achieved strong results across many of the 2016 awards categories, ranking No 2 in the world. The top prize for World’s Best Business Class is notable as this is among the most competitive in the customer survey,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. “Airlines globally continue to develop and introduce new product and service concepts in Business Class and it takes a great deal of hard work to stay ahead in this market,” he added.
Over the last year, Qatar Airways announced an unprecedented expansion of its network with 13 new destinations launching in 2016 including Adelaide, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Chiang Mai, Seychelles and Sydney.
The airline continues to grow in 2017, and will commence services to further new destinations including Auckland, which will be the world’s longest flight, Lusaka, Skopje and Nice.
The Peninsula
